186 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



ward. The stone crumbled away as it came in con- 

 tact with my thickly-nailed shoes, which I tried to 

 dig into the rock, and thus stop my descent. I strove 

 to seize on every little inequality, regardless of the 

 sharp edges; but as my fingers, bent convulsively 

 like talons, scraped the stone, it crumbled off as 

 though it had been baked clay, tearing the skin like 

 ribands from my fingers, and cutting into the flesh. 

 Having let go my pole, I heard it slipping down be- 

 hind me, its iron point clanging as it went ; and then 

 it flew over the ledge, bounding into the depth below : 

 in a moment I must follow it, for with all my endea- 

 vours I was unable to stop myself. I knew the brink 

 must be near, and expected each second to feel my 

 feet in the air. Xavier, who by some means or other 

 had got higher, looked round when he heard my stick 

 rebounding from the rocks, and saw my position. To 

 help was impossible, indeed he might himself slip, 

 and in another moment come down upon me. He 

 looked and said nothing, awaiting the result of the 

 next second in silence. 



I had made up my mind to go over the brink, and 

 thought all was lost, when suddenly one foot, as it 

 still kept trying to hold by something, was stopped by 

 a little inequality, arresting me in my descent. I was 

 very thankful, but still feared the piece of rock against 

 which my foot leaned might crumble like the rest, and 

 let me slip further. Hardly venturing to move, lest 

 the motion might break it off, I gently turned my 

 head to see how near I was to the brink : iny foot 



